An exclusive free insurance scheme for all Indian nationals, including domestic workers earning below BD150, has come into effect in Bahrain, it has been announced.

It will be valid until October 31 next year, officials said at a Press conference held at the Indian Embassy in Adliya.

Present were embassy charge d'affaires Ajay Kumar along with officials from the Indian Community Relief Fund (ICRF) and New India Assurance Company.

'The beneficiaries do not need to pay any premium amount as ICRF has paid BD45,000 to the New India Assurance Company as part of an open comprehensive group life and personal accident insurance policy,' said ICRF chairman John Iype.

He said that the policy offered insurance against injury or death anywhere in the world as well as death due to heat exhaustion.

According to the new policy, in case of death or permanent disability caused by accidents, the insured person would get full coverage amount of BD1,000.

In case of partial disability, the person would get 50 per cent of the sum assured, which is BD500.

Iype said to claim the insurance amount, a salary certificate from the company or records from the General Organisation for Social Insurance (Gosi) were required along with a death certificate.

Kumar said in cases where none of the documents were available, ICRF would examine the case and present its recommendation to the embassy, which will then take the final decision.

'We urge Indian nationals to renew their car insurance from New India Assurance Company as five per cent of the amount will be contributed to the ICRF,' he said.

The new policy is issued by J A Zayani and Sons, the sub agent of New India Assurance, with the support of Armour Insurance Services.

'This is the first of its kind group policy which will benefit Indian citizens,' said New India Assurance manager Sudhir Shetty.

'However, it does not cover natural causes of death, except heart attack.'

The policy follows after former Indian ambassador Dr George Joseph launched the life and personal accident insurance scheme last month.

A similar scheme was implemented successfully by Dr Joseph in Qatar last year, where he was ambassador.

The New India Assurance currently offers the low premium personal accident insurance scheme that targets low income workers and has so far covered around 45,000 members.

It offers three policies, starting from 500 fils which offers a payment of BD1,000 in case of death.

The second and third are BD1.500 and BD2.500 which offers an insurance payment of BD3,000 and BD5,000 respectively to the next of kin of the insured party.-TradeArabia News Service